Still a couple of years out, but we are starting to talk about going some place big for our 25th. Europe seems to be the destination. We don't have any specifics as yet. Thinking Britain, Germany, and Italy, but again, it is very early in the planning phase.

One of the first things I know will need to be acquired is passports. We have never travelled internationally. How long does that process take? When would be best to start on that if we were to target summer 27?

I love WWII history, so I will be interested in sites or museums. I know of the Imperial War Museum outside (?) London but that's it.

Get passports now. You never know what paperwork problems you might run into.

My uncle (by marriage) of Polish descent went to get a passport and found out that the name he served in the Army as, wasn't his real name on his birth certificate. The name he grew up with was an Anglicized spelling but his Birth Certificate had the original Polish spelling.

Passports are good for 10 years so, no reason not to knock that out early.

How long are you planning for your trip?

I just did a whirlwind 4 days in Southern Germany and wish I would have taken twice as long.

London, Germany, and Italy would mean a lot of time in the train. London to Paris to Northern France / Southern Germany is a more efficient route with a lot to see between London and Paris.

AgCPA95 said:

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Add Churchill War rooms to your sights to see in London. Get tickets in advance and avoid to the long cues.

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Thanks for this rec. I hadn't thought of it.

HollywoodBQ said:

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Get passports now. You never know what paperwork problems you might run into.

My uncle (by marriage) of Polish descent went to get a passport and found out that the name he served in the Army as, wasn't his real name on his birth certificate. The name he grew up with was an Anglicized spelling but his Birth Certificate had the original Polish spelling.

Passports are good for 10 years so, no reason not to knock that out early.

How long are you planning for your trip?

I just did a whirlwind 4 days in Southern Germany and wish I would have taken twice as long.

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10 days to 2 weeks is what I'm thinking. I'm fortunate to be able to bank PTO time, so that shouldn't be a problem.

My sister and BIL just did a southern Germany trip. I'll be talking to her about it for a lot more details, but I know they spent time around Munich and that area, went to the Neuschwanstein Castle, stuff like that. They were there for roughly 10 days I believe.

jh0400 said:

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London, Germany, and Italy would mean a lot of time in the train. London to Paris to Northern France / Southern Germany is a more efficient route with a lot to see between London and Paris.

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Like I said, this is literally in the beginning of the planning phase. I think Germany is a must for this trip. It's possible that it will be only Germany. London is also high on my list of desired places to visit. Italy is just a thought at this point, but now thinking of geography, I'd have also go to Austria (if I have that right) before ever getting to Italy.

France is not really of interest to me, aside from seeing the architecture of places like Notre Dame or visiting Normandy (oh, Normandy would be a considerable interest to me, but I have to think of what my wife might like to see, she knows of my interest in WWII but it isn't so much her thing).

If we simply did Germany, could we do a trip that would allow us to see sites in both northern and southern Germany? Within a 10 day-2 week time frame?

One day in Paris as a stopover between London and your third stop would be enough time to see Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Strasbourg and Stuttgart are both along the way if you took a train from Paris to Munich.

If Italy is must see, you can take a train from Paris and through Lyon to Milan and then onto Rome or Florence.

akaggie05 said:

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Allow at least 3-4 months to get passports. Usually it goes a lot faster but the system seems to get randomly backed up. Honestly I'd just go ahead and get them now, one less thing to worry about and they're good for 10 years.

You'll need a UK visa (new as of this year, costs about 20 bucks and good for two years).

Most US airlines release inventory for reservations 330 days in advance, so you're still a ways out from being able to book flights, etc.

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UK ETA App from the App store of your choice. The process takes about 10 minutes to enter all of your info. Didn't even have to type in any info, the app walks you through turning on contactless on your phone and it can scan/import everything via the RFID chip in your passport. Then just go turn the contactless back off if you don't regularly use it.

Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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Get passports now. You never know what paperwork problems you might run into.

My uncle (by marriage) of Polish descent went to get a passport and found out that the name he served in the Army as, wasn't his real name on his birth certificate. The name he grew up with was an Anglicized spelling but his Birth Certificate had the original Polish spelling.

Passports are good for 10 years so, no reason not to knock that out early.

How long are you planning for your trip?

I just did a whirlwind 4 days in Southern Germany and wish I would have taken twice as long.

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10 days to 2 weeks is what I'm thinking. I'm fortunate to be able to bank PTO time, so that shouldn't be a problem.

My sister and BIL just did a southern Germany trip. I'll be talking to her about it for a lot more details, but I know they spent time around Munich and that area, went to the Neuschwanstein Castle, stuff like that. They were there for roughly 10 days I believe.

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Since you're planning on going in the summer, some of the tourist attractions don't open until mid-May.

I tried to go to the Eagle's Nest but wasn't successful. I did make the drive up to Berchtesgaden which was a pretty neat town.

I hit the Mercedes and Porsche Museums on the same day and it was light until 9pm so I was able to enjoy downtown Stuttgart that evening.

I could have easily spent 3 days in Munich. I really wanted to go to the Technical Museum but I opted for the BMW Museum and BMW Welt (World).

I only spent 1 night in Baden-Baden but should have spent 2-3.

I haven't taken a train in Germany since 1978 but I've rented a car a few times in the past decade. Probably one of the first things you'll want to figure out is which city you want to fly into and depart from. After that, you can figure out how you're going to get around the country - by train, or car.

On my way to the airport from Stuttgart to Frankfurt, I drove through Heidelberg (didn't even get out of the car) and wish I would have spent a day or two there. We did spend a few days there in 1978.

One attraction I didn't even try on this trip because I didn't have enough time but a really awesome place that we visited in 1978 is Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

I've never been to Berlin but I'm sure that would be worth the trip too.

My big souvenir from this trip was a hat from Lederhosen Aigner in Berchtesgaden that I'm planning to wear for Oktoberfest in Galveston. It was spendy but... at least now I have an authentic hat.

Decide whether you want a fast-paced itinerary or a more relaxed one European cities are packed with culture, but trying to "do it all" often leads to burnout. I always recommend narrowing your focus to a few regions and truly enjoying them.
Here a few of my European pics from last year. If you are not working with a travel advisor my contact info is in my bio.

This trip will be confined to Germany.

Thinking that we fly into Munich and spend 4 nights there - day trips to Dachau and Neuschwanstein Castle

Take a train to Nuremberg for 1 night

Take a train to Cologne for 1 night - this leg of the trip will include a stopover for a few hours in Wurzburg

Take a train to Berlin for 4 nights - will include a day trip to Potsdam

This feels like it is still quite a bit of activity in a short period.

What do you have in mind for Munich and Berlin besides the day trips? Berlin has a bit more to see than Munich but 3-4 days in each feels heavy. The middle of your trip will mostly be spent on trains especially if you have a stopover.

You mention you're big into history, so I'd suggest Dresden. It was re-built after the firebombing while preserving what it could. They widened the roads to make it easier to get around. The spires on most of the buildings are still pre-WWII but they've rebuilt the bases in a similar architecture. I personally love it there.